A federal lawsuit accusing Honolulu police of beating the wrong man could end in a payout, a likely win for the plaintiffs and a cost to city taxpayers.

• The case dates to New Year's Day 2024, when officers hunting an armed suspect who had shot two officers grabbed the wrong man.
• The man says he was pinned against a fence with a police van and then beaten by plainclothes officers.
• The city argued the mix-up was reasonable during a fast-moving manhunt and the force was justified.
• A judge ruled in July that the excessive force claims had enough disputed facts to go to a jury, which usually pushes both sides toward settling.
• The proposed amount has not been made public, and the City Council will discuss it behind closed doors this week.

Outlook: A settlement without any admission of wrongdoing looks likely, since the city risks a large jury award if the case goes to trial.